Craig's List 2014 Prospects

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

The size advantage never goes out the window. It's one of his strengths, not a weakness like you try to make it out to be. He has man strength now, that's a good thing. He will be able to overpower defensemen at the NHL level as well, that's why powerforwards are so valuable. Winning board battles can lead to goals. Having a team that wins battles in front of the net and along the boards leads to offense. Ritchie has the type of size that will allow him to win a lot of those battles and his physical style is what you want to see from a big man.

Strange post. His size and strength combined with his skill is his appeal. It isn't a reason to discount or downgrade him.

Just to add to this:

I have seen a lot of posters point at the big prospects and say both positive and negative things about 'size advantage' and how it translates into the NHL. You can't judge a prospect and project him in the NHL in this manner just looking at his height and weight.

If Ritchie was overly-developed I would agree with DJS and say that it may not translate - that this 'advantage' won't be there when he gets to the NHL and tries to compete against bigger and stronger players.

In this case, when one looked at Ritchie at the combine, you could easily see a very big 'natural' size to him, but a frame that has a lot of room for him to grow into. He is a prospect that will get bigger and stronger. I didn't see him ranked in the bench-press at the combine, and I look at this as a good sign. I make the argument that he is still very under-developed, and give him a few years training with the pros, he will have the ability to dominate physically.

It is like looking at pint-sized Rocco Grimaldi and saying: "Well, when he puts on 25lbs or so from his draft year (which wouldn't be an unreasonable assumption, even with his size) that he may be able to physically withstand and compete in the NHL. However, when you suddenly see Grimaldi and notice how over-developed he was as compared to other prospects his age, it becomes much more difficult to rationalize another 25lbs on his frame. I argue that Grimaldi has been a disappointment thus far, and I think part of that is because he was used to physically dominating against his peer group - even at his smaller size - because he was more physically developed. He didn't have that advantage in the NCAA, and his game is different from a prospect like Gaudreau.

Ritchie may bust - anything can happen - but he is no over-developed kid using that advantage. He is still very much an under-developed kid with a very large frame, and in my opinion, it projects very well.

[SanFranFlamesFan]

Does anyone else feel like they are on an emotional roller coaster with this?

I go in cycles of getting super excited about Ekblad, sure he's exactly what we need, definitely think we should trade up. We can develop him over the course of the rebuild. Then I see the point about the 2006 draft, and what if Ekblad is EJ and Sam/Sam/Leon are anything like Staal/Toews/Backstrom. What a disaster that would be.

Then I go to Bennett. He seems exactly what we need. Complete player, fast, plays with grit and fire, no holes in his game. But then I get worried that playing that way and not being the biggest guy may not hold up well in the NHL.

Then I go to Reinhart. Einstein on the ice - sounds great. Excellent playmaker. Smart, very responsible defensively. Great playmaker. Maybe he can be our Bergeron or something. But then I get worried about his iffy skating and so-so size in an NHL built on speed and size.

Then Draisaitl is my least favourite. I'm worried about his skating, and maybe a tendency to disappear. But he's got that NHL size, and I hear Kopitar comparisons. We would kill for a Kopitar!

I have no idea what the right pick is. The draft can't get here soon enough so I can stop stressing about it.

[StrykerSteve]

Every player has holes in their game, this is precisely why there is no consensus top pick.

Teams will draft based on positional need and which holes they feel can be more effectively corrected before the player hits the NHL ice.

It's also why Ekblad will likely go first overall.

[nik-]

16 more sleeps

[shutout]

http://www.whl.ca/roster/show/id/9212
Jaedon Descheneau

http://www.whl.ca/stats/show/type/top_scorers/ls_season/245
#7 WHL Scoring

http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/feature/?id=120171
#83 in Button’s List

http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/feature/?id=9363
#95 Central Scouting

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=64576
Problem is that he is 5’9”
But he puts up a ton of points
How much does he play with and benefit from Reinhart?
Is he worth taking with the Pittsburgh pick at #83?

[dissentowner]

We can discuss Ritchie vs MDC until we are blue i the face but it won't matter I think, one of the top 4 will be ours. One thing that I have read in this thread is comparing Ritchie to Kassian, they are nothing alike. Kassian was a stupid hockey player in his OHL days, he would take ill timed stupid penalties that hurt his team and he has always just reeked of stupid. I am pretty sure a bag of hair has more IQ than Kassian. Ritchie is a pretty smart kid on the ice.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by T@T

Better comparison to Iginla is Virtanen. Same age(17), 2nd year of junior instead of 3rd and same points (71)

As shown Iginla had 136 points in his 3rd year,Ritchie isn't close, hell, Ferland had 96 points his 3rd year!

Sorry but have zero love for Ritchie...at all.

Thissssss.

[saXon]

17 days....ugh.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

The size advantage never goes out the window. It's one of his strengths, not a weakness like you try to make it out to be. He has man strength now, that's a good thing. He will be able to overpower defensemen at the NHL level as well, that's why powerforwards are so valuable. Winning board battles can lead to goals. Having a team that wins battles in front of the net and along the boards leads to offense. Ritchie has the type of size that will allow him to win a lot of those battles and his physical style is what you want to see from a big man.

Strange post. His size and strength combined with his skill is his appeal. It isn't a reason to discount or downgrade him.

ya....but he seems like a mouth breather.

[Caged Great]

If we were picking 7th or 8th, Ritchie might make sense.

We are picking 4th. That would make no sense.

Too many players that are clearly better offensively with higher ceilings in more important positions.

Centers >> Wingers

105, 105, 91 pts >>> 74 points

Ritchie did have 39 goals to Draisaitl's 38 and the Sam's 36. Even MDC had 39 goals but also had 21 more points than Ritchie. Ehlers had 49 goals and 104 points.

[kn]

After a lot of reading, I'm becoming less sold on Bennett. I don't deny his skills but I have enough doubts about him being able to translate his aggressive, abrasive play at the next level. From a couple accounts, he has a slight build, and while he will put on muscle, his frame doesn't allow for a lot more. He may have to change his style of play at the next level or his body may break down early, sort of how Mike Richards is a shadow of his former self despite being quite young at 29. Can he be effective if he has to reduce the grit he currently brings to the table? (This has nothing to turn with Pullupgate.)

I have no idea about any of these players and only get this impression from reading various draft profiles.

[AC]

Originally Posted by kn

After a lot of reading, I'm becoming less sold on Bennett. I don't deny his skills but I have enough doubts about him being able to translate his aggressive, abrasive play at the next level. From a couple accounts, he has a slight build, and while he will put on muscle, his frame doesn't allow for a lot more. He may have to change his style of play at the next level or his body may break down early, sort of how Mike Richards is a shadow of his former self despite being quite young at 29. Can he be effective if he has to reduce the grit he currently brings to the table? (This has nothing to turn with Pullupgate.)

I have no idea about any of these players and only get this impression from reading various draft profiles.

I don't see his size being an issue. I think he'll have a similar effectiveness and intensity as Duchene.

Though looking it up I was surprised to see Duchene was 190lbs at his draft? Wow.

[SHOGUN]

Originally Posted by kn

After a lot of reading, I'm becoming less sold on Bennett. I don't deny his skills but I have enough doubts about him being able to translate his aggressive, abrasive play at the next level. From a couple accounts, he has a slight build, and while he will put on muscle, his frame doesn't allow for a lot more. He may have to change his style of play at the next level or his body may break down early, sort of how Mike Richards is a shadow of his former self despite being quite young at 29. Can he be effective if he has to reduce the grit he currently brings to the table? (This has nothing to turn with Pullupgate.)

I have no idea about any of these players and only get this impression from reading various draft profiles.

Bennett is not just an abrasive, gritty player, he has the higher skill set compared to Reinhart and Draisaitl. He's also the better skater and defensive player of the two.

[kehatch]

Reinhart has all of the smarts, but lacks the elite skill set to use them. He is also a bit gentle for my tastes. His lack of speed and physical play also mean he doesn't match well 1/2 with Monahan IMO. I don't like being slow or gentle up the middle.

Ekblad is good at everything but doesn't have an elite tool set. Another gentle guys as well.

Draisaitl is interesting. It will be interesting to see if he can up the effort level, round out his game, and if he has the smarts for the NHL game. Lots of flags, but some real upside ad well.

Bennett already has a round game and some elite skills. He has a size to gain which is a bonus. It just means he will get better. His abrasive chippy game is just a bonus.

I like all four players. But the only one I am close to loving is Bennett.

[Robbob]

I think you are selling reinhart short. He wouldn't be pegged as a top forward going on two years if he didn't have elite skill. I think he will have an easier transition to the nhl when all is said and done.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Reinhart is the best play maker of the 3 centers imo.

[Flames_F.T.W]

I like the fact that Bennett is known for his speed, which is a plus IMO. That being said, I'm not overly concerned about the perceived foot speed of Reinhart or Drasaitl as I think their passing and play making can make up for it.
I'd be happy with any of the 3 top C in this draft, but have them as Reinhart-Bennett-Drasait

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

If we were picking 7th or 8th, Ritchie might make sense.

We are picking 4th. That would make no sense.

Too many players that are clearly better offensively with higher ceilings in more important positions.

Centers >> Wingers

105, 105, 91 pts >>> 74 points

Ritchie did have 39 goals to Draisaitl's 38 and the Sam's 36. Even MDC had 39 goals but also had 21 more points than Ritchie. Ehlers had 49 goals and 104 points.

Even in this very simplistic view based on points, it is quite evident that taking Ritchie is a "Bad Idea". It is very surprising folks would be happy if the Flames took Ritchie over any of the top four.

In my world, passing up on any of the 105 points players for Ritchie is insanity.

Ritchie for me is well below the following players: Dal Colle, Ehlers, Perlini, Nylander. If he went higher than 9-10 I'd be very surprised.

[Monahan23]

I have Ritchie 6th on my list. I wouldn't be overly upset with him.

[Wastedyouth]

If we went off board and picked Ehlers, I wouldn't be sad. Unless it was at the expense of Reinhart.